A South Korean politician has urged the country's president to play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 to understand the potential consequences of a North Korean invasion.
Korean politician Han Dong-hoon has urged President Lee Jae Myung to play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, as he believes the game's depiction of a North Korean invasion highlights the importance of military preparedness.
As reported by local outlets, the independent lawmaker made the bizarre recommendation in an October 23 Facebook post, suggesting it offers an experience of "catastrophe that can unfold when security preparations are inadequate."
Han reasoned, "Peace is not maintained by vague hopes based on the goodwill of the other party. It can be maintained by thoroughly preparing for the worst-case scenario."
Politician Says Modern Warfare 4 Highlights Real Security Concerns
Modern Warfare 4 features a fictional conflict in which North Korea launches a surprise invasion of South Korea. The latest installment in the Call of Duty franchise allows players to take on the role of a young South Korean soldier fighting to defend the country as the conflict escalates.
The campaign features intense battles across the Korean Peninsula, including combat in Seoul, which is depicted as suffering widespread destruction.
Han acknowledged that the game is fictional but argued that "North Korea's military threat is still a reality today." He also pushed back against concerns that the game's portrayal of North Korean forces could increase hostility toward the neighboring country.
The politician's comments were also directed at the South Korean president's approach to national security. He criticized the president's remarks about North Korea's nuclear arsenal and questioned the country's military preparedness.
Modern Warfare 4 Sparks Political Debate
Han isn't the only South Korean politician to use the game to make a point about national defense.
Ahn Cheol-soo, a lawmaker from the main opposition People Power Party, similarly suggested that Lee should experience the game or watch gameplay footage to understand the consequences of a potential North Korean invasion.
South Korea's Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young defended the game's right to exist, arguing that video games, like films, are protected forms of creative expression. "Games are not subject to prior censorship," he added.